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Nashville's Top 10 Places to Shop

The Music City experts at Great American Country share their list of the Top 10 best places to shop in Nashville, Tennessee!

Hillsboro Village in Nashville

Spread over a few short blocks of 21st Avenue South, Hillsboro Village offers everything our local hearts love: boutiques and shops with great shopping for gifts (or for yourself), a used book store, a hipster institution of a coffeehouse, great dining and more.

Photo by: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

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Imogene + Willie

Known for supplying custom, handmade jeans to celebrities as varied as Gwyneth Paltrow and Billy Gibbons (of ZZ Top fame), the creative minds behind Imogene + Willie, Matt and Carrie Eddmenson, believe in slow fashion. Just like the slow food movement, slow fashion relies on sustainable materials sourcing and craftspeople who make things by hand. And the shop, named for Carrie’s grandparents, really signifies their relationship with all their grandparents and with a slower, more thoughtful way of making and selling quality goods.

The Imogene + Willie shop, a converted gas station, anchors Nashville’s hip and popular 12th South Neighborhood. But the shop’s reach spreads beyond Nashville. Prep-fashion giant J.Crew even picked up a line of the brand’s signature raw-denim jeans, aptly naming the line “Willie.” If you plan to stop in the shop at the corner of 12th and Sweetbriar, don’t expect a lot of fanfare. Their signage is low-key on purpose. Just follow the folks with the amazing-looking jeans. In addition to high-quality, custom-made denim (with a price tag to match), you may come home with some vintage Nashville threads, locally made lotion and other products to make your home and closet just a bit cooler.

Hatch Show Print

Hatch Show Print is almost solely responsible for the look and feel of Nashville’s brand of country music at the beginning (from the 1920s to 1950s) — think Roy Acuff to Johnny Cash to Dolly Parton — and the print shop’s resurgence in the 1990s and early 2000s directly sparked the Renaissance in letterpress printing and Americana design and music seen today. But Hatch’s visual style reached beyond the country genre, even in the early days, to jazz and blues musicians like Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstong, and it really defines the look of the sound of the American South for the entire country.

In its 130-plus-year history, Hatch Show Print has occupied a few spots in downtown Nashville, including a former location directly behind the Ryman Auditorium, but after it was purchased by the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992, contents of the shop began moving into its new spot on 5th Avenue South, which includes a large print room where you can watch posters coming off the presses, a store displaying 100-plus posters, a gallery where you can view the historic Hatch collection, as well as a classroom and workshop space offering educational and hands-on opportunities.

Pick up a poster or two in the shop, for sure, but don’t ignore the history tour (you can call ahead for individual or group tours), because Hatch really showcases where Nashville has been and where it is now.

Nashville Farmers Market

Located on 16 acres in the heart of downtown Nashville, the Nashville Farmers Market is brimming with locally-made goods, fresh produce and an assortment of restaurants. Housed largely indoors, overlooked by the Tennessee State Capitol Building and adjacent to Bicentennial Park, the NFM has a feeling that is distinctly Nashville. Divided into three sections, each is designed to support locally owned and operated businesses.

The Farm Side houses anywhere from five to 100 farmers, artisans, crafters, and merchants year-round. A wide selection of locally-made soaps, jams, honey, canned goods, milk, cheese and more are for sale, especially on weekends. June through November is the busiest time of year, with flowers and early spring produce starting in April. And a lot of merchants even offer samples!

If shopping all the locally made crafts and goods leaves you with an appetite, the Market House has 11 restaurants to choose from, a coffee café, Louisiana Seafood Co., International Market and more. Friday through Sunday, the third section, the Flea Market, is open and houses over 50 merchants selling everything from handcrafted pottery to home goods and clothing. If you're looking to take a piece of Nashville home with you, this is the place to be.

H. Audrey

When you're the daughter of Hank Williams Jr., music is in your blood. But for Holly Williams, fashion is also a passion. She opened H. Audrey when she saw a void in the Nashville clothing market – and it has been a hit with locals and celebrities alike, offering clothes, shoes and accessories from labels like Rag & Bone, J Brand, Golden Goose, and Hunter Boots.

"In Nashville we have no Barney's, no Neiman's, no Saks, no Bergdorf's, no Bendel's," she said, referring to several high-end department stores. "We have some great little boutiques, but I felt like there was still so much lacking here, that's when I decided to open my own boutique to fill the missing pieces."

Sheryl Crow, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Jessica Simpson, Faith Hill, and Kelly Clarkson are just a few of the stars who rave about H. Audrey. In addition to picking up pieces for your wardrobe from cutting edge designers, you can also head up to the second floor and check out Holly's great collection of music photography.

Gruhn Guitar

Just up the street from some of the world's most famous honky tonks is Gruhn Guitar, one of the premier places to buy pretty much any instrument with strings. Gruhn carries used fretted instruments from Gibson, Fender, Martin, Epiphone, Gretsch and National as well as a wide selection of new instruments from Martin, Taylor, Collings, Fender and more.

What really makes Gruhn unique is that you never know who might be jamming on a guitar when you walk through the door. Even if you're not in the market for a set of strings, it's worth walking in to browse – and hear a tune or two.

La Vie En Rose Cottage

Located in south Nashville, La Vie En Rose Cottage offers unique vintage, vintage-inspired, and new furniture, accessories and jewelry with an affordable price tag. They specialize in cottage chic and French country décor, while also offering a selection of clothing, jewelry, bedding and more.

Owners Jenny and Nathan Light spend a great deal of time scouring auctions in search of new pieces you won't find anywhere else. They also offer a selection of homemade jar and dessert candles and fine homemade soaps. In addition to their own items, they also feature products by local Nashville artisans and crafters.

If you have a specific piece in mind, you can give Jenny and Nathan a call ahead of time and they'll start searching auctions all over to find it. With a friendly staff and an inviting, cozy atmosphere, you may never want to leave!

Fairytales Bookstore & More

Whether in search of a good book, a unique gift or a fun activity for the kids, Fairytales Bookstore & More is the place to be. The charming store carries a variety of toys, games, books and crafting supplies, using eco-friendly vendors as much as possible, and holds daily story times as well as other child-centric events.

"My goal is to create a safe space where children are free to express themselves through all mediums of art," owner Tammy Derr said. "I also want to provide a unique space for adults to relax and rejuvenate."

Fairytales has over 2,000 titles in stock and carries toys and products by the likes of Melissa & Doug, Creativity for Kids, Sarah's Silks, and Magnetic Poetry among others. It's the perfect shopping destination for the whole family to enjoy.

You never know what you might find when you walk through the doors of Fire Finch. With an eclectic assortment of clothing, jewelry, home décor and other trinkets and treasures from across the world, the Fire Finch staff aims to make shopping an experience.

Fire Finch has two locations in Nashville, one downtown and one in Hillsboro Village near Vanderbilt University. With a helpful staff and, at least at the Hillsboro Village location, two friendly felines, shopping is a pleasure. Although food and drink are discouraged while shopping, coffee – with lids – is encouraged.

The downside to Fire Finch is narrowing down what to take home and what to leave on the shelf. Fun, fashionable clothing, jewelry in every size, shape, and color, and an array of bags and shoes make it difficult to pick just a few items. And if you happen to be searching for a gift, be sure to ask the staff for assistance – they specialize in finding the perfect gifts!

Hip Zipper

Hip Zipper, located in east Nashville, is a favorite vintage boutique among locals. The well-organized, affordable store has everything from jeans and dresses to belts, bags, wallets and shoes. While most of the store is devoted to women's apparel, there is a good selection of men's and children's to choose from and sizes range from XXS to XXL.

Most pieces are from the 1950s-1970s, but a few stragglers from other decades make their way onto the racks. Quality is important to the Hip Zipper and anything the staff deems in less than ideal condition is placed in a free bin at the front of the store. All items are laundered, steamed and pressed before making their way to the sales floor.

If you're going to Hip Zipper, make sure you have plenty of time to devote to browsing their selection. With racks and racks of clothing and accessories, you could be there a while. And don't let the outside fool you – the store is much bigger than it looks!

Antique Archaeology

If you're a fan of the History Channel's show, American Pickers, look no further than Antique Archaeology for your shopping needs while in Nashville. Owned by Pickers star Mike Wolfe and located just a few blocks from downtown Nashville, even the building is an antique.

Walking into the old Marathon Automobile car factory where the store is located is like taking a step back in time. Dated from the early 1900s, the factory has been restored to house Mike's second store location. At Antique Archaeology, you can find pieces you may have seen on the show, browse Mike's collection of rare and unique motorcycles, and pick up Antique Archaeology keepsakes including t-shirts, key chains and more.

The store is full of smaller items like vintage photos, old signs, picking journals and wind-up cymbal clapping monkeys, as well as furniture and unique pieces salvaged American Pickers style. Open only a short while, it's already a popular stop in Nashville. Be sure to take your camera with you for some great photo opportunities – you may even run into Mike himself!